Pop-up shop of local charcuterie, cheese, paiai, preserves and more

By Martha Cheng

Published: 2013.07.18 10:56 AM

Photo courtesy of Dallas Nagata White

Tonight, GreenWheel Food Hub launches its pop-up shop of locally grown and preserved foods, including pickles, jellies and jams, as well as Shinsato Farms pork and rabbit charcuterie from Salt Bar & Kitchen, cheese from Naked Cow Dairy and paiai from Kakoo Oiwi. Plus, it's the debut of Tante Bakery, by Rikka Brunner, baker for Salt, who's introducing her pastries and breads, including one with kiawe flour, made with ground kiawe pods that lend an almost caramel-sweet, nutty flavor.

GreenWheel's line of preserves help fulfill two needs:
- to raise money for SNAP/EBT (formerly known as food stamps) services at farmers' markets, so people of all income levels can gain access to fresh, locally grown fruits and vegetables
- to provide additional income for farmers by using surplus and off-grade produce that might otherwise go to waste. Some farms estimate up to 40% of crops are plowed under because farmers don't have the time/resources to process them into something sellable

Since January, when GreenWheel introduced SNAP benefits acceptance at Blaisdell Farmers Market, more than $4,500 in SNAP/EBT funds have been spent there. GreenWheel also accepts SNAP benefits at Wahiawa Farmers' Market and hopes to roll out the program to three more farmers markets on the island by the end of the year.

The shop will be open throughout the weekend, with pickling and charcuterie workshops during the day on Saturday and tasting plates during Honolulu Night Market. Then join the locally-sourced Sunday brunch, featuring hand pies, poached eggs and bacon, taro hash, tomato jam and more.

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